Two years ago when Ross Fisher played in Abu Dhabi, not many people had heard of the young Englishman. Two weeks later everyone had – he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
He finished fifth, behind Henrik Stenson, but it was a springboard which saw him go on to win the KLM Open and cement his status as one of the European Tour's young stars, finishing sixth on the 2008 order of merit, now renamed the Race to Dubai for 2009.
Fisher, in Dubai this week at the Al Naboodah Pro-Am at Dubai Creek alongside Ryder Cup luminaries such as Robert Karlsson and Graeme McDowell, is happy to be back. "Always nice to be here," he told XPRESS, while taking time out from practising his putting. "I've done well in Dubai in the past, and obviously playing with Tiger was amazing.
"But I've missed the cut in Abu Dhabi the past two years, probably down to a bit of rustiness going into the first tournament of the year. So I'm aiming to put that right.
"Events like this Al Naboodah Pro-Am are a great way to get in competitive shape.
"The Abu Dhabi course should suit my game. So there's no reason not to do well. The longer, the better for me," he said of the monster layout, which has been extended to 7,500 yards this year.
